Tensions between European settlers and local Māori were escalating that would soon eventuate into war between the government and Taranaki and Waikato Māori. 

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The arrival of Europeans to New Zealand created conflict over land and sovereignty between Māori (tangata whenua), the Crown (government), and settlers. For centuries Māori had been living in isolation and then suddenly came into collision with a colonial powerhouse. Their traditional way of life was rapidly disappearing under the influence of the Pakeha settler.

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Connection to the land for Māori is fundamental. Māori defended their right to occupy the soil to which all their tribal life had been attached – of cultural, historical and spiritual significance. On the other hand, the new settlers viewed land as an economic commodity - motivated to protect and defend what they had bought and worked for, and belief that their land had been purchased in good faith. Bearing in mind, many immigrants (settlers) had never owned land before.

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During the period 1840-1870 British and colonial forces fought Māori to open up land for settlement in conflicts that became known collectively as the New Zealand Wars. Sovereignty was also contested despite the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. Māori became less willing to sell land to the rapidly growing European population.

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Te Āti Awa of Taranaki is one of several closely related Iwi originating from the ancestor Awanuiarangi. The traditional lands of Te Āti Awa stretch from the coast north of New Plymouth, north-east of Mount Taranaki including the Waitara and New Plymouth areas. The arrival of Europeans created major political, social and cultural disruption. An influx of New Zealand Company settlers anxious to start farming the fertile Te Āti Awa lands around New Plymouth and Waitara, marked the start of unrest in the Taranaki region.

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This disrupted both the Taranaki area and Te Āti Awa itself – some of whom wanted to sell land to settlers, while others opposed land sales. In the 1850s, portions of Te Āti Awa lands were sold [John and William's purchase of land at Omata and Tātaraimaka bear testament to this]. This led to friction and warfare among sub-iwi of Te Āti Awa and hostility toward the European settlers. It was against this backdrop that both John and William were trying to forge their living.

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It was Māori land the whole distance from Omata to Tātaraimaka, occupied by Māori that were determinedly opposed to any settlement by the Pakeha. The only land access was to pass by Poatoko pā (via Taupuae River) whose chief was ‘Tamati Wiremu of Te Āti Awa’ - he was more friendly than the others and did not oppose John or William.

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Despite conflict, Te Āti Awa collectively managed to establish a thriving tribal economy based primarily on selling food to the settlers in New Plymouth. They planted extensive orchards and wheat fields and tended a variety of livestock.  Notably, in 1855, John imported a four-horse wheat threshing machine. This he sold to local Iwi from Huirangi - an indication of how willing Te Āti Awa were to obtain machinery to assist and advance their agricultural pursuits.

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John was to travel between New Plymouth and Wanganui on several occasions during the mid-1850s, sometimes large groups (22 people including women and children) and sometimes just him and his wife Mary – a journey he felt safe enough to make considering the general mood of the times, helped no doubt by the fact that he was relatively well known among local Te Āti Awa circles.

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As observed by John in 1855 “every indication was that war must eventuate at no very distant period”. British troops were now permanently located at New Plymouth and local volunteers mobilised - opposing Māori forces occupied Te Kohia and Kaipopo pā. War did eventuate in Taranaki, the two Taranaki Wars (colonial government against Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Ruanui and their Waikato allies) were fought between 1860-1866. By this time, both John and William had left Taranaki and had moved south to Wanganui.

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